Disney–ABC Domestic Television

Buena Vista Television LLC (operating under the names Disney–ABC Domestic Television and Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution and also operating as ABC Syndication;[1] formerly known as Buena Vista Television, Inc. and Disney Domestic Television) is the in-home sales and content distribution firm of Disney Platform Distribution, a division of The Walt Disney Company. Content distribution responsibilities include domestic television syndication, domestic pay TV, Internet and cable video-on-demand (VOD), and pay-per-view outlets.[2]

Buena Vista Television LLC
Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Disney–ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution
FormerlyBuena Vista Television (1985–2007)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision syndication
FoundedMarch 1985 (1985-03)
Headquarters
Burbank, California
,
U.S.
Area served
North America
ParentDisney Platform Distribution
(The Walt Disney Company)
Websitedisneyabc.tv

Background

ABC's first syndication arm, ABC Films (established in July 1953), was spun off as Worldvision Enterprises in March 1973 due to fin-syn laws (which have since been repealed).

Despite having some TV shows and feature films, Disney only had two syndicated shows, The Mickey Mouse Club and The Mouse Factory, prior to the formation of this unit.[3]

History

Buena Vista Television, Inc.
Buena Vista Television logo used from 1997 to 2005.

Disney established a television syndication unit in 1985, with Robert Jacquemin as senior vice president of domestic television distribution. None of its animated feature films were planned to enter syndication at the time.[3] The division was incorporated as Buena Vista Television, Inc. on November 5, 1985,[4] with its first release in the first-run syndication market called Siskel & Ebert.[5] The company produced the business-oriented morning show, Today's Business, in August 1986, only to put an end to the show in April 1987, indicating that they were unable to get enough advertisers.[6] In 1990, the company offered its first game show, The Challengers, into first-run syndication.[5]

In late 1986, Buena Vista was shopping DuckTales for a 1987 debut, with a 4–6 p.m. placement and a 2.5/3.5 syndicator/station ad split.[7] In late 1990 and early 1991, after launching The Disney Afternoon syndicated block, Buena Vista had considered starting a new one-hour morning block to start in 1992.[8]

On August 24, 1994, a reorganization of Disney took place in which Richard H. Frank became head of a newly formed Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications, which was split from Walt Disney Studios and included Buena Vista TV.[9]

In April 1996, due to the ongoing post Disney–Capital Cities/ABC Inc. merger realignment and the retirement of its president, Walt Disney Television and Telecommunications' divisions were reassigned to other groups. Therefore, Buena Vista TV, as a part of Walt Disney Television International, was transferred to Disney–ABC Television Group.[10]

In March 2007, Starz Inc. sued Buena Vista TV for breaching their agreement by allowing films to be available online through Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store and other outlets. The introduction of the Apple TV device forced Starz to file suit, which hinged on the "contractual definition of 'television'" and whether complete TV exclusivity was granted, as Starz then had a secondary distribution deal with Netflix.[11]

Disney–ABC Domestic Television

In May 2007, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to semi-retire the use of the Buena Vista brand in favor of focusing on the three core brands of Disney, ABC, and ESPN instead.[12] As a result, Buena Vista Television was rebranded as Disney–ABC Domestic Television (DADT).[11] Buena Vista TV converted to a limited liability business form on April 10, 2009.[4][13]

By July 2008, Disney–ABC Domestic TV signed additional carriage agreements with Vudu and CinemaNow, which was then added to the Starz lawsuit. On December 2, 2008, Disney–ABC Domestic TV and Starz Entertainment settled their online distribution lawsuit with the terms undisclosed.[11]

Distribution units were transfer to Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) as part of The Walt Disney Company’s March 14, 2018 strategic reorganization in anticipation of integrating 21st Century Fox's assets.[14] In February 2020, Disney licensed 21 TV series, from Ally McBeal to Witches of East End including Lost and Desperate Housewives, to Amazon-owned IMDb ad supported streaming service.[15]

First-run programming

Current

Former

References
  1. "ABC Syndication Members Profiles". Syndicated Network Television Association. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  2. "Disney–ABC Domestic Television Company Profile". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  3. Harmetz, Aljean (March 6, 1985). "Disney Creates TV syndication Unit". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  4. "Buena Vista Television (C1356512)". Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  5. Gerard, Jeremy (January 22, 1990). "The Media Business: Television; Syndicators Find a Winner: The Successful Game Show". The New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  6. Adelson, Rea (November 27, 1987). "A Push for All-Business Radio". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  7. Sobel, Robert (August 4, 1986). "Kids syndication marketplace moving at frenzied pace" (PDF). Television/Radio Age. Vol. XXXIV no. 1. p. 59. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  8. "INTV DISPATCHES" (PDF). Broadcasting: 14. January 7, 1991. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  9. Weintraub, Bernard (August 25, 1994). "Chairman of Disney Studios Resigns". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  10. "Roth, Iger Assume Expanded Responsibilities at the Walt Disney Company". PR Newswire. April 16, 1996. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  11. Spangler, Todd (December 15, 2008). "Coda. (a lawsuit between Starz Entertainment and Disney-ABC Domestic Television)". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015.
  12. Fixmer, Andy (April 25, 2007). "Disney to Drop Buena Vista Brand Name, People Say (Update1)". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  13. "Buena Vista Television LLC (200910010281)". Business Entity Detail. California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. Chmielewski, Dawn C. (March 14, 2018). "Disney Announces Reorganization, Names Kevin Mayer Head Of New Direct-To-Consumer Unit, Adds Consumer Products To Bob Chapek's Portfolio". Deadline. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  15. Spangler, Todd (February 5, 2020). "Amazon's IMDb TV Inks Disney Pact for Free Streaming of 'Lost,' 'Desperate Housewives,' More". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  16. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (January 20, 2016). "'FABLife' Officially Canceled Following Tyra Banks' Departure, Disney/ABC Picks Up 'Right This Minute'". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  17. Petski, Denise (March 4, 2019). "'Tamron Hall' Syndicated Daytime Talk Show Gets Fall Premiere Date". Deadline. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  18. Just, Olivia (July 3, 2014). "Disney moves filming of 'Millionaire' to Stamford". CT Post. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  19. Stelter, Brian (December 2, 2011). "Head of ABC's Daytime Programming Is Leaving". New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  20. Villarreal, Yvonne (October 20, 2014). "ABC stations pick up Tyra Banks-led daytime talk show for 2015". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  21. Thielman, Sam (August 1, 2008). "Sam Raimi banks on Disney's 'Seeker'". Variety. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  22. Carter, Bill (December 19, 2013). "Katie to End Production in June After Two Seasons". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  23. Albiniak, Paige (April 29, 2013). "Disney-ABC Goes Wall-to-Wall With 'On the Red Carpet'". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  24. "Faith Hill-Produced 'Pickler & Ben' Talk Show Launching in September". Taste of Country. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  25. Wayne Friedman (April 15, 1990). "Syndicated TV: Hardball With the Big Guys". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  26. "MORE NEW CHILDREN'S PLAYERS FOR DISNEY" (PDF). Broadcasting. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  27. "Low ratings spell end of Brady show". Los Angeles Times. AP. January 13, 2004. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
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